Phonograph record changing mechanism



Feb. 20, 1940. RULANNER 2,191,214

PHONOGRAPH RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM Filed June 25, 1954 e Sheets-Sheet1 INVENTOR.

Raul U. Lazmev'a. v

ATTORNEY.

Feb. 20, 1940. P. u. LANNERD PHONOGRAPH RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM FiledJune 25, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR. Paul [Z Lamzzm.

ATTORNEY.

Feb. 20, 1940. u, LANNERD 2,191,214

PHONOGRAPH RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM Filed June 25, 1934 e Sheets-Sheets ATTORNEY.

1 Feb. 20, 1940. P. u. LANNERD I PHONOGRAPH RECORD CHANGING MECHANISMFiled June 25, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 IIIII WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIW 4'!7.1311111111111114 I I N VENT OR.

Paul M Lanzzerd.

ATTORNEY.

Feb. 20, 1940. P. u. LANNERD 2,191,214

' PHONOGHAPH RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM 7 Filed June 25, 1934 6Sheets-Sheet 5 HILHx/Nlh i/ /04 1 86 87 7 INVENTOR.

9 a 1182 Paul ULannerd.

I www ATTORNEY.

Feb. 20, 1940. p, L NNERD 2,191,214

PHONOGRAPH RECORD CHANGING MECHANISM Filed June 25 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 630 131 I03 Fig.17.

1 1 INVENTOR.

- Paul (1 Lan'nerd.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 20, 1940 ITED TA'l'ES PHONOGRAPH RECORD CHANGING MECHANISMPaul U. lLannerd, Elyria, Ohio, assignor to The General industriesCompany, Elyria, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application .lune 25, l934, Serial No. 732,248

23 Claims.

lhis invention relates to phonograph mechanisms and particularly tophonograph mechanisms whereby a plurality of records of the disc typemay be played one after the other automatically.

Heretofore, phonograph mechanisms have been proposed whereby a pile ortier of disc type records on the phonograph turntable may be played oneafter the other. After one record has been played, the reproducing headof the phonograph. is returned to the starting point and the playedrecord is removed from the pile, and so on until all of the records havebeen played.

Such prior phonographs however have been capable of automaticallyplaying and. changing records of one size or diameter only, for exampleten inch records; and when, say, twelve inch records are to be played,the mechanism must be manually controlled.

It is therefore an object of the present inven tion to provide animproved phonograph mechanism whereby a plurality or pile of disc 'typerecords may all be played one after the other automatically and havingmeans adapting the mechanism to a plurality of sizes or diameters ofrecords.

Another object is to provide a phonograph mechanism of the type referredto particularly adaptable to portable types of phonographs.

Another object is to provide an improved phonograph mechanism of thetype adapted to play successively and automatically a pile or tier ofdisc records. 1

Another object is to provide, in a phonograph mechanism adapted to drivethe turntable at a plurality of speeds to adapt it to records which havebeen produced at different speeds, and comprising automatic means drivenfrom the phonograph motor to change the records automatically, improvedmeans for operating the record changing mechanism at the same speedirrespective of the adjustably changed speed of the turntable.

Another object is to provide, in an automatic record changing phonographmechanism, improved means for feeding the reproducing needle onto thesuccessive records 'at the beginning thereof.

Another object is to provide an automatic phonograph mechanism of theclass referred to provided with means whereby a single record may berepeatedly played; or a pile of records may be automatically played oneafter the other; or a single record may be played once only andthereafter the mechanism automatically stopped; and

improved means whereby 'during the playing of any one record, theplaying thereof may be manually stopped.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which myinvention appertains.

My invention is fully disclosed in the following 5 description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 11s a top plan view of a portable phono graph embodying myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the phonograph of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of mechanism of the phonograph of Fig. l,drawn to a larger scale, and with a phonograph disc or discs of Fig. lomitted; and illustrating the disposition of certain parts thereof whenthe phonograph is to play twelve inch records;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with some of the parts in differentoperative positions;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to a part 'oiFig. 3 with parts indifferent operative positions;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view to an enlarged scale taken from the plane6--6 of Fig. 1, illustrating part of a record changing mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a View, similar to Fig. 6 illustrating parts thereof indifierent positions which they assume in the operation of changing arecord.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view to an enlarged scale taken fromthe plane 8 of Fig. 3, further illustrating the record changingmechamsm;

V Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view similar to a part of. Fig. 3 illustratingthe disposition of certain adiustably movable record changing parts whenthe mechanism is to play ten inch records;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view to an enlarged scale taken from the planeill-l0 of Fig. 4, showing some parts omitted from that figure forclearness; 1

Fig. 11 is a sectional viewtaken from the plane llll of Fig. 3;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken from the plane l2-l2 of Fig. 4 withparts omitted for clearness;

Fig. 13 is a sectionalview taken from the plane l3-l3 of Fig. 3 showingparts omitted from that figure for clearness;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a tone arm which I may employ with anadjustable stop device thereon;

Fig. 1.5 is a view similar to Fig. 14 with parts thereof in .diiferentpositions;

Fig. 16 is a front elevatio'nal view of the tone arm and a. stop devicewhich I may employ, the

a panel I3 mounted in the carrier I.

I point of the'next record of the pile.

stop device appearing as if viewed from the left end portion of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a view. similar to Fig. 16 with parts thereof in difierentpositions;

Fig. 18 is a view partly diagrammatic illustrating a motor controlsystem which I may employ;

Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately from the planeI9-I9 of Fig. 3, illustrating a motor drive for the phonograph tumtable.

Fig. is a fragmentary sectional view take from the plane 202ll of Fig.13;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the plane 2I of Fig.14;

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the plane 22 of Fig.18;

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary view similar to a part of Fig. 19 showing partsthereof in different operative positions; v

Fig. 24 is a plan view taken from the plane 24 of Fig. 23.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown in portable forma phonograph reproducing mechanism embodying my invention of the typeadapted to energize a remotely disposed amplifier or loud speaker, themechanism being housed in a carrier proper I and a cover 2 therefor, thecarrier having a carrier handle 3, the cover connected thereto by hinges5-4, and the carrier and cover being shown in solid lines in the open oroperative position and in Fig. 2 the cover being shown in-the closedposition in broken lines.

A motor 5 in the carrier is drivingly. connected to a turntable 6through a two-speed drive shown separately in Fig. 19 and at eitherspeed, the running speed may be adjustably varied for the usualpurposes. a

The turntable shaft I projects upwardly through the turntable 6 farenough to center on the turntable a plurality or pile of record discs,to be played one after the other. A tone arm 9 has a reproducing head I3provided with a needle II and is mounted to oscillate laterally andvertically upon a base I2 supported upon At l4 generally is a mechanismto be described for lifting the tone arm from the record at thecompletion of playing thereof and returning it to the starting Duringthis operation. a mechanism indicated generally at I5 removes from thepile the top record which has been played and discharges it over intothe cover 2-as a receptacle therefor in a manner to be described.

In the cover 2 has a false bottom I6 hingingly connected to the insideof the cover at IT and at the opposite side of the cover being hinginglyconnected as at I8 to a prop l9 constantly under 'the im pulsion of aspring 20. When the cover 2 is in the open position illustrated in Figs.1 and 2, the false bottom I6 may be operatively raised to allow the propI9 to move counterclockwise to the position indicated thereby elevatingthe false bottom to a relatively steep y inclined position, upon whichdiscs 8 discharged from the turntable 6 may be slidingly deposited. Whenit is desired to close thecarrier by rotating the cover to thebroken-line position Fig. 2, the prop l9 may be operatively moved inunder the false bottom I6 and the'discs 8 may all be placed on theturntable shaft .1 and then the cover rotated to the closed position.Ther'eupon the false bottom I6 at the end opposite the hinge I 'I willfall down upon the discs 8 and the prop I9, under the impulsion of thespring 20, will move upwardly into engagement with the inner side of thecover 2 and serve as a retaining device to prevent the discs 8- fromcoming off from theshaft I, causing them to be retained on the turntable6 to prevent damage thereto which might occur if they were free torattle around loosely within the carrier.

The reproducer head I0 is preferably of the electro-dynamic typegenerating current impulses and wires 2! (Fig. 13) leading from the headIII through the tone arm 9 and downwardly through the base I2 are ledout of the carrier I as shown in Fig. 1 and may be plugged in in a wellknown manner to the loud speaker or amplifier employed in connectionwith the apparatus.

A double cord 22 having the usual two-prong plug 23 thereon may leadinto the carrier I and under the panel I3 to the, motor 5 under thecontrol of a two-way switch 28 on the panel I3 as shown in Fig. 1 and asshown diagrammatically in Fig. 18; and as also shown in Fig. 18, themotor 5 is under-the control of a mechanismoperated switch indicatedgenerally at 25 and to be described.

The motor 5 may be of any usual or known construction mounted in ahousing indicated generally at 26, Fig. 2, and a part of which isillustrated in Fig. 19. The drive for the turntable 6 is illustrated inFig. 19 and will now be described.

A worm 2I driven by the motor in a manner not shown but well known inthe art meshes with a worm wheel 28 running idle on the shaft I andmeshes with a worm wheel 29 keyed to a countershaft 33. A spur gear 3ikeyed on the countershaft 30 mesheswith a spur gear 32 running idly onthe shaft II. A clutch device 33 keyed or splined on the shaft I isreciprocable thereon by oscillation of a shaft 36 to engage clutch teeth.35a'nd'36 alternatively on the gears 32 and 28 respectively. 'Onmovement of the clutch device 33 upwardly as viewed in Fig. 19, themotor will drive the turntable Ii through the worm 2'I, gears 29, 3i,32, clutch device -33. and shaft 3, the turntable 6 having for thispurpose a hub 31 resting upon a collar 38 on the shaft, the speed .ofthis driving connection being a relatively low speed. Upon shifting theclutch device 33 downwardly, the drive will. be from the worm 27 throughthe gear 23, clutch device 33, teeth 36 and to the shaft I, and thisdrive will be at a relatively low speed. These speeds as well known inthe art and commer= cially may be at the ratio of 33 to 78 for wellknown reasons.

The gear 32 has an upwardly extending hub 33 upon which is secured anupwardly open generally cup-form cam device 83 (see also Fig. 3), thecup skirt of which is approximately semi-cylindrical, the cam device itat its closed cup bottom portion being telescoped over the hub 39 andsecured thereto by a screw or screws such as 4|. The upper edge 62 ofthe cam device is normally covered and concealed by portions of theturntable 6.

As will be apparent from the mechanism of Fig. 19, the cam device 46 isalways driven at the same speed regardless of which of the two speeds ofthe drive are propelling the turntable 6, the device .40 being drivendirectly from the worm 21 through the gear 29 and gears 3| and 32. Thecom device as will presently .be

,ports the tone arm.

described operates the mechanism to return the tone arm and dischargethe played record; and by driving it always at a constant speed, it willoperate said mechanism more reliably and efflciently than if it rotatedat different speeds at different times.

The shaft has a laterally extending arm 48 engaged by a horizontallyoscillatable arm 44 connected to a horizontally oscillatable speedadlusting arm 45 by a vertical stub shaft 48, the arm 45 extendingoutwardly under the adjacent edge of the turntable 8 to render itaccessible.

The support for the turntable 8 is illustrated and described morecompletely in the copending patent application of William A.Schmittg'en, Se rial No. 513,361, filed February 4, 1931, and thetwo-speed drive and clutch device 83 are more fully illustrated anddescribed in the copending' application of Fritz Van der Woude. Serial1510. 595,012, filed February 25, 1932, and reference may be had theretofor a complete description of these parts if desired. They constitute noessential part of the present invention except in so far as theypredetermine two selective speeds for the turntable and a constant speedfor the cam device 48.

The mechanism for playing a plurality of records one after the otherwill now be described in connection with its mode of operatic It will beassumed that'a pile of records 8-8 of the twelve inch .diameter size areplaced on the turntable as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this being one of thetwo preferred sizes to play whichthe apparatus is provided. The motor 5is started by throwing the switch 28 to the A" position, Figs. 1 and 3and 18, which closes the motor circuit from the wires 22 through the.switch 24. The speed of the motor is adjusted by moving the arm 45,Figs. 1, 3 and 19, to set the motor speed to the predetermined speed ofthe records, the extreme speed positions of the lever 45 beingdetermined by suitable stops l1 and 48 on the panel 13, Fig. 3, and therunning or tone speed of the turntable may be adjusted by a lever 88'toward F" for faster or 3" for slower by mechanism not shown but wellknown in the art. One such mechanism is shown in-the patent of F. Vander Woude No. 1,936,924, issued November 28, 1933.

The head ill of the tone arm 8 may be grasped by the operator and thetone arm may be rocked upwardly and then swung laterally on the base 12and then lowered to place the needle II in the record groove at thebeginning of the record. The base construction supporting the tone arm 8for these movements may be of any suitable construction not essential tothe present invention. One form is shown in Fig. 13 and comprises aninverted cup-form sheet metal base proper 18 resting upon the panel 13secured thereto by a plurality of screws 11, the base having an innerpartition 12, and perforations at 13 in the bottom of the cups 18 and 14spaced therefrom in the partition 12, guide oscillations of a stem 15projected through the perforations; and a nut 18 on the lower end of thestem prevents the stem from moving outwardly from the perforations and aforked head 11 on the upper end of the stem sup- In the preferredconstruction, the tone arm is of inverted channel section as shown inFig. 20 and the head 11 has upwardly projecting arms 18 -18.Pivot-pointed screws 1819 are threaded through the flanges of thechannel and are seated at their pivot points in suitable recesses in thearms 18-18. The stem 18 is hollow and the. wires 2| above referred toare suitably conducted downwardly therethrough as shown in Figs. 13 and20.

The head I1 has a bracket 88 extending therefrom, Fig. 13, supporting apivot pin 81 to be referred to.

As will now be apparent, the tone arm may swing laterally by rotatingthe head 11 and stem 15' and may swing vertically on the pivot screws18-'I8. The movements of the tone arm 8 may be counter-balanced by aweight 82 rearwardly of the pivot bearings 18-18.

The needle now follows the groove of the record and the record isplayed, the needle ultimately reaching the inner termination of therecord generally at the central portionof the disc. It will pointed. Atriangular shaped arm 54 extends laterally from the lever 5| and atension spring 85 hooked at one end into the arm 54 and at the other endhooked'into an eye 56 on the panel exerts resilient force tending torotate the lever 5| counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 3. Rotation isprevented by a dog 51 on the lever 5| engaged with a notch 58 on a lever59 extending transversely of the lever 5| and pivotally connected at 88to the panel I3. Thelever 58 is resiliently constrained in thecounter-clockwise direction by a tension spring 8| hooked at one endinto the lever and at the other and hooked into an eye 62 r on thepanel.

at one end and at its opposite end extends under the lever 58 and has aV-notch in the and providing a pair of oppositely inclined cam surfacesI 85 and. A cam follower pin 61 on the lever 88 is normally disposed inthe notch between the cam faces 85 and 66. The cam arm 88 thereonextending upwardly therefrom.

Reference may be had to these parts also in Figs. 5, 10, 11 and 12.

As-shown in Fig. 3, a finger movablewith 83 has apost the tone arm 8will move toward the post 88 and ultimately'engage the same, but beforedescribing the action thereof, the finger 88 will be more fullydescribed in connection with Figs. 11, 12 and 13. A three-fingeredelement 85 is pivotally supported on the pin BI and comprises three fingers extending forwardly from the pivot, an upper finger 88, anintermediate finger 81 and the lowermost finger being the finger 84. Atension spring 88 is connected at its upper end to the element 85 and atits lower end to the bracket 88 forwardly of the pivot 81 and thusresiliently constrains the element 85 to rock counter-clockwise aroundthe pivot 81 as viewed in Fig. 13.

' .A bracket 89 is secured transversely in the tone engage the panel I3.

the tension of the spring 6|.

Upon the lower end of the finger 84 on the under side thereof is a foot92 and a roller 93. During playing of the recordin the normal po: sitionof the tone arm, the foot 92 rests upon the upper side of the lever 59as shown in Figs.

11 and 13. As above mentioned, in connection with Fig. 3, the finger 84thus moves laterally bodily with the tqne arm 9 and when the reproducingneedlereaches the spiral terminal groove of the record and the finger 84is given an accelerated final movement, it engages the post 88 and movesthe cam arm 53 with it, causing.

-the cam face 55 to slide upon the pin 51 thereby moving the lever 59about the pivot pin 60 disengaging-the notch 58 from the dog 51 against'I'i1ereupon,-the spring 55 rocks moving the pointed end 53 to thebroken line position, disposing the point thereof in the path' lever 59.The free end of the lever 59 has a depending cam portion 95 terminatingin a straight portion 98 normally projecting through a perforation 91'in the panel I3. The movement of the lever 5| causes the roller 94 toride over the cam portion 95 onto the straight portion 98',

' moving the lever 59 from the position of Fig. 11

to that of Fig. 12. To facilitate this elevating 'movement of the lever59, the pin 60 above referred to on which the lever pivots, extendsloosely through a perforation in the lever and the lever has a pair ofdepending ears 98-98 (see Figs. 3, 11, 12 and 13), rounded to rockinglyAs the lever .59 rises, it raises the roller 93 thereon and with it the'iinger 84, Figs. 10 and 12, and by the engagement of the intermediatefinger 81 with the bracket 89 as described in connection with Fig. 13,raises the tone arm, supporting it by the roller 93 on the inclinedlever 59. By the action of gravity, the roller 93 rolls downwardly onthe lever 59 rocking the tone arm laterally around the base I2 and] atthe same time lowering it toward the record.

During these operations the lever 5I is retain'ed in its oscillatedposition of Fig. 4 by the .point 53 slidingly engaging the rotating camdevice edge 42. A spring 99, Figs. 3 and 4, hooked at one end into thearmf54 and at the other end into the eye 58, is put under tension by therocking of the lever 5| and when the cam device edge 42 leaves the point53 of the lever, the spring 99 will return the lever 5| and associatedparts from the position of Fig. 4

to-that of Fig. 3, the throw effected by the spring 99 and the inertiaof the parts being sufficient to rock the lever 5| to're-engage the dog51 with the notch 58 against the slight tension thereby created in thespring 55, thus restoring the parts I for a second operation.

As the tone arm swings laterally toward the starting point as abovereferred to, it is first positively stopped and then gradually andgently lowered to position the needle upon the next record, by themechanism now to be described, the record which has just been playedhaving in the meantime been removed from the pile by mechanism later tobe considered.

the lever 5|,

On the outer end of the lever 5| 'is a roller 94-engaging the under sideof' the Projecting upwardly through the panel I3 is a piston rod I80,Figs. 3, 10, and 11, vertically reciprocably guided in a sleeve IOIthreaded through the panel I3 and vertically adjustably secured by a nutI02. Adjacent the upper end of the rod I a collar I03 is press-fittedonto the rod. A cup-form head I04 having an upwardly outwardly flaringskirt has the cup bottom perforated as at I whereby the bottom istelescoped over the upper end of the rod I00 and rests upon the collarI03. At the upper end of the rod is a receptacle I08 in which is seateda friction pad- III! of rubber, leather or the like. A compressionspring I08 telescoped over the rod and abutting at opposite ends uponthe receptacle I08 and upon the cup bottom resiliently constrains thecup-form head I04 to an upright position but permitting it resilientlyyieldingly to be tipped on the collar I03 as shown I enlarged to form acylinder I09 and the rod I00 extends downwardly into the cylinder and onits lower end carries a weight IIO projecting downwardly out of thecylinder; and clamped between the shoulder III on the rod and the weightH0 is a cup-form piston II2 of leather or like material adapted tosealingly engage the inner wall of the cylinder I09 when movingdownwardly and to create a partial vacuum in the cylinder above thepiston but adapted to move upwardly without retardation except bynegligible friction. A pad H3 in the upper end movement of the pistonrod and piston.

Alever II4, Figs. 10, 11 and 12 (see also Fig. 4) extends transverselyunder the panel I3 spaced therefro and at one end is supported by ascrew II5 projected through a suitable perforationin'the lever andthreaded into the panel I3 and having a lock nut I I6 to adjustablyposition it. A sleeve II! is provided on the screw II5 between the leverH4 and the panel I3 and.

' lever 59, extends downwardly therefrom through a perforation I in thepanel I3, at its lower end is projected through a suitable perforationin the lever H4 and under the latter lever has a pair of nuts I2Ithreaded on the hanger II9, the nuts supporting the lever II4 on thehanger adjustably. The free end of the lever H4 is bent downwardly andhas a lever portion I22 extending under the cylinder I09 and adapted tosupport the weight I I0 and thereby the piston rod 100 and associatedparts above described.

When the lever 59 above described is in its untrippedor lower position,Figs. 3 and 11, the weight H0 and head I04 are in a lower position, theweight IIO lowering the parts to this position by depressing the pistonII2, the tendency to create vacuum thereby being relieved by air flowingdownwardly through the guide I0Iv through clearance space I23 around thepiston rod I00. When the lever 59 is raised in the man- .ner abovedescribed to the positions of Figs. 4,

I of'the cylinder I09 cushions and stops upward engage the lower end ofthe weight I I and raise the same and therewith the piston rod I00 andhead I04 to the position of Figs. 10 and 12, the movement beingunretarded due to the cup construction of the piston II2 as well knownin the art.

When the tone arm 9 is swung laterally as above described by the roller93 rolling down the incline of the lever 59, the tone arm will first bestopped upon the elevated head I04 by stop means on the tone arm to bedescribed and then will be supported upon the pad 101 on the piston rodI00 and, the lever 59 being again returned to its depressed position (bythe restoring of the lever 5 I to its position of Fig. 3 as abovedescribed), the weight of the tone arm will move the piston rod I00downwardly with a retarded motion due to the partial vacuum in thecylinder I09 above described and gently lower the needle upon the recorddisc.

The stop means for stopping the tone arm against the head I 04 will nowbe described in connection with Figs. 10 and 14 to 17 inclusive. The

bracket 09 above described has a finger I23 extending laterally from thetone arm. A screw I24 having an enlarged head I25 is projecteddownwardly through a slot I25 in the bracket 89, the head I25overlapping the slot, and below the bracket 80 the screw is telescopedthrough a sleeve I21 abutting at its upper end upon'the under side ofthe bracket and at its lower end abutting upon a stop element I20. Apair of nuts I29 locked on the lower end of the screw I24 maintains theparts assembled as illustrated in Figs. 10 and 21. The stop element I28is thus pivotally movable on the screw I24 and comprises a finger I29and a pair of stop portions I30 and I3I at different distances from therotational axis of the screw I24. A lug I32 is also formed on the stopelement I28.

' When the stop element I28 is rocked clockwise, the lug I32 engages aportion of the tone arm 9 as shown in Fig. 14 and then the stop portionI30 is disposed to engage the head I04 to stop the lateral swing of thetone arm in the position for large size or twelve inch records. When thestop element I28 is rocked on the screw I24 to move the lug I32 awayfrom the tone arm 0,

the lug I32 will engage an abutment portion I33 on the finger I23 toposition the stop portion I3! in position to engage the head I04 toposition the tone arm for smaller or ten inch records.

To adjustably move both of the stop portions I30 and I3I, a screw I34 isprojected through a perforation in one of the flanges of the channelformtone arm 9 as shown in Figs. 10 and 14, and is threaded into the headI25 of the screw I24 and upon turning the screw I34, the head I25 of thescrew and therewith the screw itself and thus the pivotal point of thestop element I28, may be adjustably moved forwardly or backwardly in theslot I26 to adjustably position the stops.

When'the stop portions are set for the larger records as shown in Fig.14, and when the stop portion I30 engages the head I04, the finger I23will be lowered upon the pad I0'I as indicated in Fig. 14; and when thestop portion I3I is set in position to stop the arm as shown in Fig. 15,the finger I29 will be lowered upon the head I04 as shown in Fig. 15.

Thus, the lateral swing of the tone arm will be stopped to position thetonev arm for either of the two sizes of records as described. When thestop portions engage the head I04, they will rock the same laterally dueto the action of the spring I08 above described, and the head I04 willbe tilted as shown in Figs. 16 and 17, where the stop portion I31! isshown engaging the head. The

frictional engagement of the pad till with the.

under side of the finger B29 will prevent the spring I00 from restoringthehead M4 to its vertical or symmetrical position, the parts re mainingas illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17.

The weight of the tone arm now depresses the piston rod I00 to lower thetone arm needle upon the record, and the needle II will engage therecord as shown in Fig. 17. The weight Il0, Fig. 10, will then continueto move the head downwardly until the friction between the pad I0! andthe finger I29 is relieved. At this time it will be understood that therecord 0 is rotating and preferably the needle II is on a marginal partof the record radially outwardly from the beginning of the recordgroove; the needle thus floats unguided on the record. The spring I08now acts to rock' the head I04 to its normal vertical position from thesolid line to the broken line positions of Fig. 17, exertinga gentlelateral swinging movement upon the tone arm through the stop portion I3Iand gently moving the needle II from its solid line to'its broken lineposition, Fig. 17, to movefit into the beginning of the record groove.Thus, the needle is not lowered into the groove directly but is gentlyfed thereinto from the marginal part of the record. As will now beapparent, the needle will be lowered upon the marginal part of therecord adjacent the beginning of the groove, whether it be a twelve inchor a ten inch record as predetermined by the stop device abovedescribed. And, the distance from the point of engagement of the needlewith the record and the beginning groove of the record may bepredetermined by adjusting the screw H34 as above described to adjustthe stops.

The mechanism for removing the played record from the pile will now bedescribed. As described in connection with Figs. 3 and 4, when the lever51 was rocked around the pivot 52 to elevate the tone arm and return itto the beginning of the next record, the arm 54 on the lever 5! waslikewise given a rocking movement around the pivot'52 from the positionof Fig. 3

from an elongated plate I35, the post having a section of reduceddiameter 240 extending downwardly through a perforation in the plate I39and on through, Fig. 8, a handle element I40 having a laterallyextending handle MI, and on through a perforation in the panel I3. A-

resilient friction washer I42 expandingly engages the under side of thepanel I3 and a collar I43 on the extension 240, whereby the post I30,plate I39 and handle element I40 are all resiliently held downwardlyupon the top of the panel I3.

The handle element I40 is pivoted as at I44 to the panel i3 and may beoscillated thereon, for a purpose to be described. The post extension240 passes through the handle element I40 at a point laterally oreccentric to the pivot I44. v An upstanding abutment I45 is mounted -onthe plate I39 adjacent the post I30. At the top of the post i38 ispivoted on a transverse pin 6, a record-lifting arm I41, the arm I4'Ibeing vertically oscillatable on the pivot I46 and laterallyoscillatable with the post I38. The arm A finger II extends laterallyfrom the arm i41. Forwardly from the pivot I46 the arm I41 has a fingerI52 bent downwardly as at I53 and outwardly therefrom bent upwardly asat I54; and pivoted upon the arm at I55 is a second finger I56, and aspring I51 wound around the pivot I55, secured at one end to the arm I41as at I58 and at its free end I59 engaging a portion of the finger I56rearwardly of the pivot 555 to resiliently hold the finger I56 againstthe finger I52.

The parts just described are tragmentarily shown in Figs. 6 and '7 inconnection with which the operation of these parts will now bedescribed.

Upon oscillatory or rocking movement of the arm 54 as above described,the link I35 will rock the arm I31 and therewith the record-lifting armM1. The end portion I54 of the arm is thereby brought around intoengagement with the upper side of the uppermost record of the pile ofrecords 8-8 and rides thereupon; and

sliding thereover, causes the pointed end I60 of the finger I56 to beinserted under the uppermost record. Continued movement of the arm I41will bring the finger I5I into engagement with the abutment I andcontinued movement will cause the arm I41 to be rocked around the pivotI46 to elevate its outer end,'moving the parts from the position shownin Fig. 6 to that of Fig. 7, lifting the engaged side of the record.

The'parts are now in the position of Figs. 4 and 7 and are held in thatposition during the continued rotation of the cam edge 42, Fig. 4. Theedge of the record diametrically opposite the engaged edge is restingupon the next record immediately thereunder which is rotating, and thissupported edge of the record is carried around by the underlying record,the record pivoting on the fingers I56 and I52, and ultimately dropsover into the cover 2 as described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.

After this has been done, the rotating cam edge 42 of Fig. 4 passes fromunder the pointed end 53 of the lever 5I and the parts return to theposition of Fig. 3 and the tone arm is returned to the starting pointand lowered upon the next record of the pile.

Where the records are twelve inch records, the above described operationmay be performed with the parts in the positions of Figs. 3,. 4, and 6to 8. Where the smaller or ten inch size record is to be played, theparts are adjustably moved to the position of Fig. 9 by rotating thehandle Hi from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 9. By thismovement, the post extension I40 is oscillated around the pivot I44 fromthe position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 9, giving a longitudinal movementto the plate I39. The movement of the plate is guided by the extension240 projecting through a circular slot I6I in the panel I3 and by a pinor like projection I62 on the plate projectingdownwardly through aradial slot I63 in the panel I3. Thus, by

throwing the handle I4I from'side to side, the

adjusteii position of the fingers, they are securely retained in theiradjusted position by a spring I64 secured at one end to a stud I65, Fig.8, on the lower side of the panel I3 and hooked at the other end in acotter pin or other eye I66 secured to the lower end of the extensionI40, the spring thus holding theextension 240 securely in one or theother of the ends of the circular slot I6I.

By the mechanism and functions described, the pile of records may beplayed one after the other, and, one after the other, discharged fromthe pile into the receptacle or cover. When the lastrecord on theturntable alone remains, the record-lifting arm I41 will not pick up thelast record because the downward movement of the arm around the pivotI46 will be stopped by the stud I49 on the arm engaging the post I38,whereby the fingers I56 and I53 will swing above the last record withoutengaging it. The tone arm however will be returned to the starting Pointas before so that the last record of the Pile will be repeatedly playeduntil the mechanism is manually stopped.

To stop the mechanism, the switch 24 may be thrown to the other or Mposition. This will break the motor circuit, Fig. 18, at the contacts264264 on the switch 24. This is preferably done while the last recordis being played. The motor is thereafter during the playing-of the lastrecord supplied with current from the mains 22, Fig. 18, through wires265-265 to the mechanism operated switch shown generally at 25. Thisswitch comprises a pan-form base 266 preferably formed from sheet metalhaving flanges I61 adapted to be secured to the under side of the panelI3 and having a depressed portion I68 between the flanges. A pair ofresilient switch arms I69 and I10 are secured to a plate "I, for exampleby rivets not shown, insulated from each other and from the plate I1I bysuitable insulation. A screw I12 is projected through the side wall ofthe pan, Fig. 22, and through a sleeve I13 and threaded into the plateHi, the end of the sleeve engaging the wall of the pan being rounded asat I14. A second screw I15 is projected through the pan wall and througha spring I16 and threaded into the plate "I. The spring I16 and thesleeve I13 position the two switch arms I69 and I10, and by turning thescrew I15, the switch arms may be rocked around the position to disposethe extension I19 in the path of a pin or like projection I80 on thelever 5i, Figs. 3 and 18, so that movement of the lever' 5I may causethe pin I80 to engage the extension I19 and bend the switch arm I10 todisengage the contacts I11 and I18. For this purpose, a curved slot IIIis provided in the panel I3 for the pin I80 to travel in.

When the switch 24 has opened the contacts 264264, the current throughthe motor 5 and the wires 265-265 flows through the switch arms I69 andI10 and through the contacts I11-I18. When the last record therefore hasbeen played and the mechanism is tripped as above described and theswitch arm 5| is rocked around the pivot 52, the pin I80 will move theswitch arm I18 to break the circuit at the contacts I'll-I18 and openthe motor circuit.

The motor circuit will be opened while the arm is being rocked on itspivot 52 and before the point 58 has ridden up on the cam edge 42, Figs.

3 and 4; and thus the torque required to rock the arm 5| and extend thespring-99 and raise the lever 59 and the tone arm therewith, will beload imposed upon the motor through the cam device 40 to absorb therotational kinetic energy of the motor remaining therein after thecurrent thereto has been broken so very little kinetic energy will beleft in the motor after the point 53 of the lever has engaged thecircular periphery of the cam edge 42; and the slight braking effectthereof will be sufficient to bring the motor fully to rest with thelever 5I in the position of Fig. 4. The tone arm, however, may return tothe starting position.

The above description of the operation of the mechanism applies torecords having a spiral terminal groove at the center of the record,giving to the tone arm an accelerated impulse of movement at the end ofthe record groove.

Where the other common commercial type of record is used, namely thathaving an eccentric terminal groove, the operation is similar to thatabove described after the apparatus is tripped. But to trip theapparatus the following means are utilized.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 11, when the tone arm has been moved toward thecenter by the playing of the record, the finger 84 moving with the tonearm moves toward the post 68. On the extreme forward end of the finger84 is a downwardly projecting pawl I82 in the form of a pin with apointed end. The upper side of the cam arm 63 is provided with a ratchetplate I83 having transverse serrations I84 therein. The pawl 84 idlyratchets over these serrations during movement of the tone arm whileplaying, being resiliently maintained in engagement therewith by thespring 88 above described which resiliently rocks the three-prongedelement 85.

When the eccentric terminal groove has been reached by the needle, thetone arm will thereby be given a small lateral. oscillatory movement asthe record rotates, and this movement is transmitted to the pawl I82 andratchet plate I84 and moves the cam arm 63 clockwise as viewed in Fig.3, causing the cam face 65 to slide on the cam follower 51 to rock thelever 59 as above described to trip the mechanism. To facilitate thisaction, the plate I84 may be given saw-tooth form serrations as shown inFig. 11 whereby the pawl I82 may move freely thereover toward the post88 but upon movement in the other direction will move the cam arm 63.

At any time during the playing of a record, whether it be a record on apile of records or whether it be'a single record, the mechanism may bestopped by manually rocking the lever 59 around the pivot 68 by means ofa finger piece or lug I85 (see Fig. 3). pile of records, the record willbe discharged from the pile without completing the same and the tone armwill be returned to the starting point of the next record.

If, however, it be desired merely to stop the machine completely, thelever 58 may be tripped by the finger piece I85 and the switch 24 may bethrown to the M position. Thereupon, the record'in the pile being playedwill be discharged, the tone arm will .be returned to the starting point'of the next .record and the machine will If the record be one in a If,however, it be desired to play the single record only once, the switch24 may be set in the M position whereupon when the record has beencompleted and the mechanism has tripped, the motor circuit will beopened as described above, the tone arm will be returned to the startingposition and the phonograph will stop.

Likewise, while during the playing of a single record the mechanism maybe trippedat anypoint of the playing by operation of the finger pieceI85. In such cases, if the switch 28 be in the "A position, the playingwill be interrupted and the tone arm will be returned to the start andthe record will be started again; but if the switch 24 be in the Mposition, the tone arm will be returned to the start but the motor willstop and the playing discontinued.

In some cases it has been found that disc records are slightly warpedand therefore the topmost record may not engage the record thereunder bywhich it is rotated, except at a few points, and thus it may slip on therecord supporting it causing distortion in the reproduction of therecord.

In order to further insure that the top-most record, the one beingplayed, will be positively driven, I prefer to provide means forfrictionally engaging the driving shaft with the record. The upper endof the shaft I, telescoped through the central perforations of therecords such as the perforations I88-I88, Fig. 19, has a longitudinalslot I89 therein. A wire I88 is projected through the shaft at apointbelow the end thereof and the end wrapped around the shaft as shownat I9I, Fig. 24, and then the wire is bent upwardly, outwardly inclinedas shown at I82, and the upper end is again .bent downwardly as at I93disposing itjwithin a bore I 85 in the end of the shaft. An upwardlyoutwardly inclined inwardly radially yieldable spring is thus providedand when the pile of records is placed on the turntable telescoped overthe shaft, the spring I92 will engage the periphery of the central holeof the uppermost record as shown in Fig. 19. The friction providedthereby will assist in rotatably driving the top-most record.

The spring I92 is so formed that it will be bent resiliently into theslot by the periphery of the record hole when the top-most record istelescoped thereover, and the upper end of the wire may be provided withan inclined portion I94 to facilitate guiding it into the hole of therecord.

As the successive records are played and removed from the pile, thespring portion I92 may resiliently bend farther out ofthe slot to engagethe remaining upper-most record until the sec- 1 0nd record from thelast as shown in 28 is frictionally engaged thereby. The last record mayhave sufficient frictional drive from the turntable so that the springI92 may not be needed to drive it, but if preferred, the springportionI92 may be formed to expand outwardly sufficiently.

to engage even the last record of the pile.

My invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shownand described. Many modifications and changes may be made within spiritof my invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a phonograph mechanism, a record supporting turntable, a laterallyswingable tone arm having a record reproducing needle, an electric motorfor driving the turnable when energized, a

source of current and an energizing circuit for the motor, a switchcontrolling the circuit, an automatic mechanism for removing the tonearm to a non-reproducing position after reproducing the record andcomprising a mechanism element having a normal and an operated position,a trip mechanism actuated by movement of the tone arm at the end of therecord reproduction to effect movement of the said mechanism element toits operated position, means operated by the motor for moving themechanism element from its operated position to actuate the automaticmechanism and for operating the switch to de-energize the motor andthereby stop the turntable, and support means for the tone arm to lowerthe tone arm from a non-reproducing position to engage the needle withperipheral portions of the record disc, and means to swing the tone armtone arm at the end of a record reproduction to effect movement of thesaid mechanism element to its operated position, ineans operated by themotor for moving the mechanism element from its operated position toactuate the automatic mechanism and for operating the switch to'deneedle into the record groove.

3. In a phonograph mechanism, a record supporting turntable, a tone armhaving a record reproducing needle, an electric motor for driving theturntable when energized, a source of current and an energizing circuitfor the motor, a

switch controlling the circuit, an automatic mechanism for elevating andswinging the tone arm to a non-reproducing position after reproducingthe record and comprising a mechanism element having a normal and anoperated position, a trip mechanism actuated by movement of the tone armat the end of a record reproduction to efiect movement of the saidmechanism ele-.

ment to its operated position, means operated by the motor for movingthe mechanism element from its operated position to actuate theautomatic mechanism and for operating the switch to tie-energize themotor and thereby stop the tumtable, a manually operable maintainingswitch for optionally maintaining energization of the motor to effectcontinuous driving of the turntable, the automatic mechanism comprisingmeans to restore the mechanism element to its normal position and re-setthe trip mechanism upon return of the arm to non-reproducing position,supporting means for the arm to lower the tone arm from anon-reproducing position to en-- gage the needle with peripheralportions 01 the disc record, and means to swing the tone arm laterallytoward the record to move the recordengaging needle into the recordgroove.

4. In a phonograph mechanism comprising a vertically swingable tone arm,an element comprising upper, lower and intermediate fingers pivotallyconnected to the tone arm to oscillate on a generally horizontal axis, astop associated with the tone arm disposed between the upper andintermediate fingers, a spring urging the element in a direction toengage the upper finger with the stop whereby the tone arm when elevatedman- 'ually may left the element bodily, and automatic mechanism adaptedto engage the lower finger to elevate it to engage the intermediatefinger with the stop to thereby elevate the tone arm.

5., In a phonograph mechanism of the class described, a stationary stopelement, a tone arm,

' a supporting element adjustably movable on the arm, a movable stopelement pivoted to the supporting element, provided with a plurality ofstop portions at different distances from the pivot axis adaptedselectively to be pivotally moved into position to engage the stationarystop element to laterally selectively position the tone arm, means foradjusting the stop portions comprising means for adjustably shifting themovable supporting element relative to the tone arm.

6. In a phonograph mechanism of the class described, a stationary stopelement, a tone arm, a supporting element adjustably movable on the arm,a movable stop element pivoted to the supporting element, provided witha plurality of stop portions at difierent distances from the pivot axis7 adapted selectively to be pivotally moved into position to engage'thestationary stop element to laterally selectively position the tone arm,means for adjusting the stop portions comprising a screw anchoredagainst longitudinal movement and threaded into a portion of thesuppporting element for adjustably shifting the supporting elementrelative to the tone arm.

7. In an automatic phonograph mechanism comprising a groove-recordsupporting turntable and a tone arm having a reproducing needle, supportmeans for supporting the tone arm above a record-starting positioncomprising a stop element and a finger element supported on the arm, asupport having a supporting portion engaging the finger element andhaving a laterally resiliently yieldable stop portion for engaging thestop element, the support being depressible to lower the arm to engagethe needle with the marginal portion of the record, the yieldable stopportion exerting lateral thrust on the lowered arm to move the needlelaterally into the record groove, and means frictionally engaging thesupporting portion and finger element to prevent lateral movement of thearm by the yieldable stop portion while the arm is in the supportedposition.

8. In an automatic phonograph mechanism of the disc changing type, aturntable adapted to support a pile of records, a main support, a mech-7,

anism including base movable on the support, and a record-removingmechanism on the base, a handle element pivoted on the main support, apivot connection between the handle element and the base eccentric ofthe handle element pivot, a reciprocable guide for the base on the mainsupport whereby when'the handle element is oscillatably moved the baseand record-remov ing mechanism may be moved bodily on the main supporttoward and from the turntable to posh tion the record-removing.mechanism for operation upon records oi different diameters.

ll. In a phonograph mechanism, a turntable, a driving shaft having anend portion extending therefrom adapted to be telescoped by the endthereof through the center holes of a pile of disc records, and means onthe shaft portion to trictionallyengage the records by their centralhole peripheries comprising a resilient element having a portion rigidlysecured to the shaft end pertion at a point spaced from its disctelescoping end and having a tree portion extending toward and'beyondthe shaft end and yieldable inwardly radially oi the shaft end portionand having an inclined portion for guiding the disc record center holeson to the shaft end.

16. in a phonograph mechanism, a turntable, a driving shaft having anend portion adapted to be telescoped by the end thereof through thecenter holes or. a pile of disc records, automatic means forsuccessively removing the successively uppermost record after beingplayed, and means on the shaft to frlctionally engage the successiveuppermost record by the periphery oi its center hole comprising aresilient element having a portion rigidly secured to the shaft endportion at a point spaced from its disc telescoping end and having afree portion extending toward and beyond the shaft end and yieldableinwardly radially of the shaft end portion and having an inclinedportion for guiding the disc rec- 0rd center holes on to the shaft end.

i 11. In a phonographmechanism comprising a vertically manuallyswingable tone arm, a tone arm elevating mechanism element, a pivotedele-- ment pivotally supported on a generally horizontal pivot axis,stop means on the arm and pivoted element to stop pivotal movementthereof in opposite direction from intermediate positions, meansyieldably constraining the pivoted element to pivotally move in onedirection and causing it, in an intermediate position, to engage theelevating mechanism element, mechanism means to elevate the elevatingelement to first move the pivoted element from its intermediate positionto its stopped position in one direction and upon further movement tocause it to elevate the tone arm, and, upon manually effectedelevational movement of the tone arm,- the constraining meansmaintaining the pivoted element in its stopped position in the otherdirection whereby, upon further manual elevational movement of the tonearm, the pivot element is engaged by the tone arm stop means effectingcontinuous pivotal movement of the pivot element in said otherdirection.

12. In an automatic phonograph mechanism of the type comprising aturntable and a record reproducing tone arm, a turntable drive shaft, anautomatic mechanism for returning the tone arm. to a non-reproducingposition after a rec- 0rd reproduction, comprising a rotary elementcoaxial with the drive shaft provided with means to actuate theautomatic mechanism and having an optimum mechanism actuating speed, apower supplying motor, power transmission mechanism supplying motorpower to the drive at a plurality of difierent speeds selectively andsupplying power to the rotary element at the said optimum speedconcurrently with each se lectlve speed.

13. In an automatic phonograph comprising a disc record and a verticallymov able and horizontally swingable r-cord. repro ducing tone-arm havinga reproducing needle, vertically movable tone-arm support stop meansvertically movable with the support movable laterally thereof by contactwith. tone arm, resilient means associated with the means opposinglateral movement thereof, means for elevating the support and forelevating the tone arm at the end of a record reproduction and tarswinging the tone-arm laterally to cause to be stopped after contactingthe stop means and et iecting lateral movement thereof to be tim portedin elevated position by the support, the support being then movabledownwardly, an escapernent device comprising the sole means retardingits downward movement, -e down ward movement oi the support de ositingthe tone arm needle upon the ungrooveo margin of the record andpermitting the stop ns to then force the tone arm laterally toward herec 0rd groove, and the support continuing move to a more depressedposition.

it. in an automatic phonograph mechanism comprising a disc recordturntable, and a ver tically movable and horizontally swingable rec ordreproducing tone arm having a reproducing needle, a vertically movabletone arm support, stop means vertically movable with the support andmovable laterally thereof bycontact with the tone arm, resilient meansassociated with the stop means and opposing lateral movement thereof,means for elevating the tone arm at the end of a record reproductionand. for the swing ing the tone arm laterally to cause it to besupported in elevated position by the support, the swinging movement ofthe tone arm effecting lateral movement of the stop means and beingstopped thereby, the support being then movable downwardly, an airescapement device comprising the sole means for retarding its downwardmovement, and the downward movement of the support continuing beyond thedownward move ment of the tone arm upon engagement of the tone armneedle with the record ungrooved margin whereby the stop means will beurged laterally in a reverse direction moving the tone arm needlelaterally into the record groove.

15. In an automatic phonograph mechanism comprising a vertically movableand horizontally swingable record reproducing tone arm, a verticallymovable tone arm support, means for olevating the support and forelevating the tone arm at the end of a record reproduction and then forswinging the tone arm laterally to cause it to be supported in anelevated position by the support, the swinging movement of the tone armbeing stopped by contact with the support, the support being movabledownwardly, and an air escapement device for retarding the downwardmoveinent of the support comprising a weighted piston secured to thelower end of the support and movable within a cylinder provided with anair vent.

16. In an automatic phonograph mechanism needle, a vertically movabletone arm support, means for elevating the support and for elevating thetone arm at the end of a record reproduction, and then for swinging thetone arm laterally to cause the tone arm to be supported in an elevatedposition by the support, the swinging move ment of the tone arm beingstopped by contact with the support, the support being movabledownwardly, an air escapement device retarding downward movement of thesupport, said device comprising a weighted piston secured to the lowerend of the support and movable within a cylinder, air vent means for thecylinder, and the downward movement of the support extending beyond thedownward movement of the tone arm sufficiently to deposit the tone armneedle on the record and to then clear the support from contact with thetone arm.

1'7. In an automatic record reproducing mechanism, a tone-arm-loweringdevice comprising a reciprocably movable member for receiving andlowering the tone-arm onto a record, means for restricting thelowering'speed of said member, said member being constructed andarranged to move to a position free of engagement with the tone-arm whenthe latter engages the record,

means for urging the tone-arm inward radially of the record whenthetone-arm is free of said memb'en means for raising said tone-arm andmoving it radially outward upon completion of the reproduction of therecord, means forraising said member to a position to receive saidtonearm, and a linkage between said last two means to effectsimultaneous operation thereof.

18. In an automatic phonograph mechanism, a main frame, a turntablecarried by said frame, a tone-arm swingable over said turntable, atonearm-lowering post adjacent to said turntable, a lifting mechanismfor lifting the tone-arm-lowering post to a position to receive thetone-arm after the completion of the playing of the record and forsubsequently withdrawing support from the tone-arm-lowering post, atone-arm lifting mechanism for lifting the tone-arm from the recordafter the playing thereof and swinging it into engagement with thetone-arm lowering post, and a dash-pot for restricting the loweringspeed of the tone-arm-lowering post as it lowers the tone-arm onto arecord after the withdrawal of the support for the post.

19. In an automatic phonograph mechanism, a main frame, a turntablecarried by said frame, a tone-arm swingable laterally over theturntable, a stop member on said tone-arm, a tone-arm elevatingmechanism for raising the tone-arm from a record after the completion ofthe playing thereof and for swinging it to an elevated recordstartingposition, a tone-arm-lowering'device for receiving the tone-arm in theelevated record starting position andfor lowering it onto a record,comprising a tone-arm-lowering post normally out of engagement with thetone-arm, a dash-pot mechanism for restricting the lowering speed of thepost, and a lifting mechanism interconnected with the tone-arm elevatingmechanism for lifting the post to position it to receive the tone-armwith the stop on the tone-arm engaging the head of the post, and forsubsequently withdrawing support from the lowering post .to permit it tolower the tone-arm onto the record.

20. In an automatic phonograph mechanism, a main frame, a turntablecarried by said frame, a tone-arm swingable laterally over theturntable,

' secured to the lower end of the post and movable a tone-arm swingablelaterally over the turntable,

a stop member on said tone-arm, a tone-arm elevating mechanism forraising the tone-arm from a record after the completion of the playingthereof and for swinging it to an elevated record-starting position, atone-arm-lowering device for receiving the tone-arm in the elevatedrecord-starting position and for lowering it onto a record, comprising atone-arm-lowering post normally out of' engagement with the tone-arm, anair escapement device for restricting the lowering speed of the posthaving a weighted piston secured to the lower end of the post andmovable within a cylinder provided with an air vent, and a liftingmechanism interconnected with the tone-arm-elevating mechanism forlifting the post to position it to receive the tone-arm with the stop onthe tone-arm engaging the head of the post, and for subsequentlywithdrawing support from the lowering post to permit it to lower thetone-arm onto the record, the downward movement of the post extendingbeyond the downward movement of the tone-arm sufficiently to deposit thetone-arm needle on the record and then clear the post from contact withthe tonearm.

22. In an automatic record-reproducing mechanism a tone-arm-loweringdevice comprising a reciprocably movable post for receiving a tonearm,means for moving said post downward to a position free of said tone-arm,to thus place the tone-arm on a record, a dash-pot for restricting thelowering speed of said post, and a laterally displaceable resilientlymounted member on said post for urging the tone-arm inward radially ofthe record when the tone-arm is free of said post.

23. In an automatic record-reproducing mechanism, a tone-arm-loweringdevice, comprising a reciprocable member having an end adapted toreceive and support the tone-arm, a flared member loosely carried bysaid reciprocable member and adapted for lateral engagement by saidtonearm, and spring means arranged cooperatively with the flared memberso as to resist displacement thereof and to urge said flared member tonormal position, whereby said displaceable member when laterallydisplaced by the tone-arm exerts pressure thereon to urge the tone-arminto initial reproducing position when the tonearm engages a record tobe reproduced.

PAUL U. LANNERD.

